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Our constitution gives all rights to the people, not the government. Especially important are the first 10 articles also known as the bill of rights, a whole list of freedoms as well as the tools to protect them. Most other constitutions are written for the sake of the government.
That's another big difference between ours and many others...ours is from the people's point of view.Quote:
Originally Posted by nun2sharp
I'm going to have to say that I disagree here. I happen to know a bit about the Dutch constitution (mydad has recently been getting into it after finding out that alot of our constitution is based on the writings of an ancestor of mine) and from what I can see a lot of the American constitution (not all but most of it when it comes to religious freedom, freedom of speech and human rights) seems to be an exact copy from the Dutch one.Quote:
Originally Posted by nun2sharp
We have a saying that it's better to make a good copy....than to invent it from the ground up badly. (Beter goed gejat dan slecht verzonnen "Better properly stolen (copied) than poorly made up"
I think that what happened in part when the "founding fathers" as they are known built the constitution is that they shopped around for things they liked in other constitutions and added to that what they needed.
And I'm sure that the Dutch constitution isn't the only one that's older than the US constitution that has remarkable similarities.
There's no disagreement here Alex! His point was that it was more common that a constitution was written for the benefit of the government and not the people. He never said that constitutions for the people didn't exist, he just made it plain that they weren't common!Quote:
Originally Posted by LX_Emergency
Again, the point of this thread is to bring up whats good in our societies and nations, not to have a pi ssing contest! If you want to talk about the bad in our societies or argue over which nation did what when then start a new thread!
Thank you!
The management:D
It was just a minor sidetrack. Don't worry about it. (And sorry about calling you Gugi)
I am absolutely certain that there are more members on this site that are grateful for the life they have due to western civilization! Please post as I would love to hear your story!!
I am grateful to have been born in a country that HAS a 2nd Amendment to the Constitution. Otherwise, we could never enforce it. I am also thankful that I live in a state (AZ) that does not legislate their citizens into being potential victims.
God has blessed America. I hope my fellow citizens can remember that and retain a little humility from time to time.
I feel strongly enough about this to post something here as well! Our (We United Statians) Constitution doesn't give the people all rights, but rather it lists to include certain rights given to us by God that the government is to secure for its people.Quote:
Originally Posted by nun2sharp
That fundamental principle is the whole given purpose of the U. S. government, and I think that is the most accurate way I can answer Mark's invitation. When a government's charter makes it plain and clear that the government exists to enforce the freedom among its people that those people are acknowledged to be born with, then those people can believe that they have the opportunity to define their own lives and their own societies because the power of the government will back their God-given rights to freely do so.
The USA is one of a handful of nations that gives its citizens an open invitation to prove their own characters. Can an entire people be trusted with their own freedom? Is God too optimistic? I don't think so. I'm glad to know I can petition my own government based on rights it was created to protect as opposed to petitioning my own government based on what it says I can and can't do.
I know in practice the US government has had and has problems actually performing those ideals, but it can't stray far forever and it can't abandon those ideals and remain because its people are born and raised free. In my own mind, I interpret my attitude toward my government this way: "Protect my God given rights and I will continue to support your existence"
What makes the US so great is the will of its people to offer themselves the opportunity to live freely. What makes the US so lousy are the people who have chosen to be lousy, NOT the government that protects their right to make lousy choices. The US is what its people make of it, little more and little less.
[Edit: I'd like to add too that the government is not what makes the US what it is, but nun2sharp's reply prompted me to voice my opinion on it anyway. It is at least a product of what does make this country great]
It fills my heart to see such a post Lee! A post that touches on the intangibles that make a Nation great and be able to expound upon them as you have!
Your post, along with a couple of others have given my heart something to sing about!
Mark
Damn Lee, that was GREAT!!:y:bow:tu
Especially that the rights we enjoy are god given, endowed to us by our creator. The rights we enjoy can never be legally taken from us. Hence my sig line.